Chapter 101 Able to bend and stretch
As winter approaches, the days in Yong'an City grow shorter and shorter.
Compared to the height of summer, the opening time of the city gates was delayed by about half an hour, and the closing time was brought forward.
Because the time spent entering and exiting the city gates was shorter, the number of carriages and horses inside and outside the gates each day was much greater than in summer, with long queues forming before dawn. But as the city gates opened wide, rows of oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages neatly lined up to one side; no one made any rash moves, nervously and curiously turning their heads to look at the other side.
The imposing and tall guards sat high on their horses, each clad in armor and wielding a long sword, their figures frosty and imposing in the chilling white mist.
Following the cavalry was a large carriage frame, its body constructed of expensive wood with intricate patterns, all crafted with the finest skill. The yellow banner, representing royalty, further emphasized their status, deterring any rash actions.
The leader, holding the reins, his narrow eyes subtly scanning the surroundings beneath his gleaming armor, then gave a shout, flicked the reins, and led the orderly ranks out of the city gates, stepping through the white mist.
Only after the convoy disappeared into the white mist did the city gates reopen, and the long queue of people walked out one by one.
Those leaving the city early in the morning were mostly merchants and workers, driving oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages, followed by caravans, some full and some empty. They walked out of the city gates and along the wide roads, eventually branching off at the fork in the road to go to different places.
Separate, gather
The road was covered in tire tracks, making it impossible to tell who was who.
As the sun rose at noon, the convoy that had been driving nonstop pulled over to the side of the road.
Leading the way were two simple carriages, both the carriages and the horses were as ordinary as could be, pulling behind several carts of wine jars, and following behind were clearly carefree江湖人士 (jianghu figures).
"Everyone, take a short break. Same rules as before: eat and drink as you please, but keep your mouth shut when necessary," said Boss Cao cheerfully, jumping off the last mule cart and calling to his escorts before walking forward.
"Madam and Miss, you can come down and rest for a while. The ground here is flat, and you can see everything. There's no need to worry about safety."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Song Jin's head popped out. Her hair was styled in a simple bun, and her phoenix eyes were bright: "Not bad, Boss Cao, you have this trick up your sleeve."
Boss Cao chuckled, "I've been traveling the world for so many years, I'm very familiar with these little tricks. Miss, don't worry. Although it's not as fast as the official road, we'll take turns day and night, and it'll take us at most ten days to get to Andong Prefecture."
Song Jin gave a thumbs up: "Great job, thank you for your hard work."
Boss Cao: "You're too kind, it's all my duty."
...
After exchanging pleasantries, Song Jin closed the curtain and went back inside the carriage.
Four people were sitting in the medium-sized carriage.
She, her mother, Qu Maoze, and Qi Zheng
Song Jin clicked her tongue twice, mocking, "Look at others navigating the world of martial arts, and then look at some people, acting like thieves."
The inspection team that had set off from the capital to the Jiangnan region had already disembarked. Qi Zheng, as their leader, huddled with them in a simple carriage, looking like a thief.
Qi Zheng sighed, "The six prefectures of Jiangnan are deeply rooted in the gentry. Even during the wars of the previous dynasty, they were largely unaffected, and the power of the various clans rarely changed. They appear prosperous and wealthy, but mergers and acquisitions are rampant, and the details of these changes are unknown. We don't know how the lives of the common people are. If we go down with the inspection team, we'll only see what they want us to see. It's better to proceed secretly."
Fortunately, the group over there was led by Song Shenzhi, and had Li Qingshan, who was similar in build and familiar with him, as a disguise. They could fool each other for a while without any problem.
By the time the area behind them was exposed, they had already patrolled almost the entire route.
This year, taxes in several prefectures south of the Yangtze River have decreased significantly, supposedly due to unpredictable weather, alternating between floods and droughts, making life difficult for the people. The imperial court has even provided substantial disaster relief. He wanted to see whether it was truly a case of Heaven being uncooperative, or whether certain officials, accustomed to their privileged status, were simply denying the people a way to survive.
"Prince Qi is truly a brilliant strategist, but he carries a heavy responsibility. With a group of elderly, weak, women, and children following you, I fear it might hinder your work," Qu Maoze's sarcastic voice rang out.
He looked at Qi Zheng, the Prince of Qi whom he had brought back from outside. He looked exactly like Qi Ye, but was much more handsome, tall, and sturdy, with no flabby features.
but
He's thin-skinned and cold-hearted; you can tell from his taciturn nature that this is pretty much the case.
Tall and strong, with superb martial arts skills, this guy is really something. If he can't even win a fight, that won't do.
Someone who looks honest but is actually cunning is also no good.
...
Facing his critical and disdainful gaze, Qi Zheng remained unfazed, still as taciturn as ever. However, very astutely, he didn't respond at all, instead glancing at Niu Tielan beside him.
"Is Madam feeling alright?"
Niu Tielan sipped his tea gently and said softly, "Thanks to the refreshing tea you prepared, it's much better than when we arrived. You young people are so thoughtful, unlike some old folks who only know how to make sarcastic remarks."
Old man Qu Maoze felt a pang in his heart and lightly clutched his chest: "Does my wife find me too old?"
After finishing his tea, Niu Tielan put down his cup and said softly, "I've just been telling the truth. Let's go, Jin Jin, Qi, Young Master Qi, go downstairs and rest for a bit, and have some hot food."
She stood up, and Qu Maoze was about to help her when Song Jin preemptively steadied her, made a face at him, and triumphantly led her mother out of the carriage, leaving only him and Qi Zheng inside.
He smiled enigmatically: "Prince Qi is quite charming. Perhaps you could teach me sometime?"
After the four of them arrived, he suddenly seemed like the outsider.
Qi Zheng remained expressionless: "Perhaps it's innate."
As he spoke, he nodded slightly to the person and then got off the carriage.
Qu Maoze was left with his stiff hand, crushing the cup in his grasp.
That brat
...
Boss Cao is a very experienced boss. The people he partners with are all acquaintances he's known for many years. They are all capable, discreet, and most importantly, reliable.
They weren't taking the proper route, weaving and turning left and right, taking a roundabout way, which was actually faster than going straight, and they soon arrived at Tai'an County, one of the six counties south of the Yangtze River.
This area has numerous rivers, three of which converge here, and the waterways are wide, making it famous for its canal transport. Every year, countless goods are transported here, making it a very important water transport hub.
"Guangning Prefecture is the prefectural capital of Tai'an County. The prefect is named He Bo, who is skilled in governance. In fifteen years, he has risen from county magistrate to vice prefect, governor, and prefect, achieving remarkable political achievements. Among his most outstanding accomplishments is the construction of the Tai'an Canal, which connects Tai'an County and Andong County, saving half of the previous transportation time and irrigating tens of thousands of acres of fertile land in the surrounding area. Last year, tax revenue increased by 10%..."
The city of Guangning Prefecture was right before us. To be honest, from a distance it looked rather ordinary compared to Yong'an City, but its prosperity was in no way inferior. In fact, as a transportation hub, there were even more merchants coming and going, and sailors and boatmen constantly hawking their wares. You could tell a lot about them just by looking at their skin tone and muscular arms.
Song Jin and the others sat in the carriage, listening to Qi Zheng slowly recount the affairs of Guangning Prefecture. He knew everything about its economy, politics, and population distribution.
Qu Maoze, as always, spoke sarcastically: "Young Master Qi really knows a lot."
Qi Zheng, used to this, said calmly, "Unlike Young Master Qu, it's just last-minute cramming."
He was bombarded with information about the area before he left, but thankfully, his years of traveling the country gave him a good understanding of the various prefectures and counties, making it relatively easy to remember. Otherwise, he would probably have been buried in books the whole way and would have been constantly ridiculed.
Faced with his composure, Qu Maoze, unsure of when to stop, continued, "Not at all, young master, you are so learned. It just so happens that the weather is fine and the scenery is beautiful today. And since your surname is Qi, why don't you tell me about the Tai'an Canal, taking self-cultivation, family management, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world as your guiding principles?"
Qi Zheng: ...
Song Jin, sitting cross-legged next to Niu Tielan, couldn't help but burst into laughter upon seeing this: "Young Master Qi, don't you know how?"
Qi Zheng shook his head helplessly.
He did know about the advantages and disadvantages of the canal, but only in plain language, without going into the details.
"What comes before 'cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world' again?" Song Jin asked for him, but added, "Is it also from the Analects?"
In comparison, Qi Zheng was slightly better, whispering, "It comes from the 'Great Learning' section of the Four Books, specifically the 'Book of Rites'."
After he returned, there weren't many courses in literature and history; it was just simple research, with more emphasis on applied mathematical notation.
As for poetry and literature, I simply study them to get a general impression, but I can't memorize them.
Song Jin only remembered the first half of the Three Character Classic and a little bit of the Analects—that was the level of knowledge they had acquired in their town's school over two months.
Qu Maoze had originally intended to use this opportunity to belittle Qi Zheng, but seeing their identical expressions of confusion, he felt a pang of heartache and fell silent.
He was a man of both literary and military prowess, a powerful and respected former Grand Secretary who outshone all other civil officials, yet his daughter couldn't even distinguish the Four Books.
Fortunately, he had already died once.
Qu Maoze felt fortunate in his heart.
Niu Tielan noticed his relief and, with a slight smile, found it amusing.
You used to say it was fine if I was uncultured, but now you know why, right?
If it weren't for her suppressing her all these years, my wretched daughter wouldn't even know these things. We should be grateful to her.
Qu Maoze seemed to read her mind, reached out and took her slender, cold hand, gently warming it, and said with a smile, "Thanks to our lady."
Niu Tielan gave a soft snort, looking at his somewhat pale face, and surprisingly didn't push him away.
This man came out specifically for her.
The inoculation of her with Gu worms had only just begun; the mother Gu was unstable, her body was weak, and she needed to inoculate with new Gu worms every day, which was very troublesome. She hadn't actually planned to come out this time; she only hoped that the person was indeed her poor father, and that he would be willing to come and see her upon receiving the news.
Qu Maoze remained expressionless and silent, but after making some arrangements behind the scenes, he led them on their way.
He also adjusted the order of planting the Gu worms, the price being that her medicine had a bloody taste now, and his face was undeniably pale.
Niu Tielan's heart still softened a little.
Actually, she wouldn't have been so bad if she hadn't made this trip. They hadn't seen each other for decades. To be honest, the only remaining connection was the guilt she'd carried since childhood.
Now that she knows the person is doing well and still holds a title, she has even less to worry about.
Seeing her softened attitude, Qu Maoze smirked and took advantage of the situation, gently squeezing her hand and even leaning closer to her, feigning pitifulness: "When you meet your father-in-law, Madam, you must put in a good word for me, otherwise, a nobody with no name, status, or connections will truly be homeless."
Niu Tielan wasn't buying it. She glared at him disdainfully and said, "Who's your father-in-law? You have no official title or status, get out of here."
Qu Maoze squeezed her hand and chuckled, "Alright then, I'll just consider you your kept man."
Niu Tielan shoved the person aside and muttered, "Nonsense!"
Qu Maoze chuckled softly, holding her hand, and then hissed softly.
Very deliberate
But Niu Tielan stopped moving and let him go, for even if his healing speed was fast, it couldn't outpace the speed of a cut.
Song Jin yawned to the side, unusually remaining silent.
They had been traveling for seven days, and with her keen sense of smell, she could naturally detect the faint scent of blood.
No matter how sweet his words were, Song Jin could treat them like farts, but these real, bloody cuts were hard to ignore.
She could only turn a blind eye.
Ultimately, this is her mother's business.
But she was still annoyed, and she whispered behind his back, "He's so annoying, so full of tricks."
Qi Zheng lowered his eyes, looking out the car window, concealing his expression, but answered without hesitation: 'Indeed.'
Song Jin liked his honest attitude; if you're going to talk badly about someone, you should say it openly. She continued, "Right, right? He's really annoying. He's been targeting you the whole way. What, does he think you're not good enough as a prince and has his eye on someone else?"
Qi Zheng couldn't help but glance back at her. Seeing her genuinely innocent expression, he hesitated, then finally turned back helplessly: '...Maybe so, my knowledge really isn't up to par.'
Song Jin was clearly displeased: 'What's wrong with knowledge? So what if you know a few more books? What's so great about that?'
Qi Zheng: '...There are several hundred books.'
Song Jin was surprised: "That's really quite remarkable."
But then she realized she hadn't said that, and changed her words: 'That doesn't mean anything; you still have many advantages that they can't match.'
Qi Zheng's heart suddenly softened, and he couldn't help but ask, "For example?"
'Steady, kind, upright, highly skilled in martial arts, good-tempered…' Song Jin could rattle off a list without much thought. Then, her tone shifted, and with a mischievous wink, she said…
'Handsome-looking, sturdy, and tastes good'
Those firm muscles are perfect for her to grind her teeth on.
Qi Zheng was speechless. He glanced at her, his gaze returning to his senses. Her eyes were bright and sparkling, seemingly no different from usual, leaving him unable to discern her true thoughts.
He replied, 'What are the drawbacks?'
'Steady, kind, upright, and highly skilled in martial arts…' Song Jin blinked and mischievously repeated what she had just said.
Qi Zheng: ...
He asked unnecessary questions
Seeing his expressionless face, Song Jin lowered her head, suppressing a laugh, and said nothing more.
She leaned her head back, stretched her leg forward, her long leg slightly bent, and placed it on his leg. She lightly stepped on it a couple of times before pulling it back, saying insincerely, "Sorry, I stepped on you."
Their private conversations returned to the forefront.
Qi Zheng was caught off guard by her stepping on him, his thigh instantly stiffening, and his expression became somewhat unnatural: "...It's nothing."
Song Jin continued to suppress her laughter, her feet, clad in cloth socks, twitching restlessly, about to slip out again, when a sharp pain shot through her waist. She turned to meet Niu Tielan's warning gaze, gave an embarrassed smile, and instantly became quiet.
Qi Zheng let out a breath, and then he heard Qu Maoze's sinister voice again: "You better behave yourself, don't think I won't punish you just because you're a prince."
Qi Zheng: ...
Go ahead and warn your daughter if you dare!
Qu Maoze looked at him and sneered.
If you've got the guts, talk back!
Qi Zheng remained silent, his usual cold expression unchanged, continuing to stare out the window, pretending he didn't exist.
As they talked inside the carriage, they drew ever closer to the city gate.
The city gate was guarded by guards; ordinary people could enter the city directly, and vendors paid a tax of two coins.
An elderly man with white hair carrying goods came over from the left, and they let him pass without asking. Behind him, a lame man carried chestnuts, and they didn't charge him either.
The guards were disciplined and kind.
These are all from top to bottom, showing that Prefect He Bo is very good at governing.
Qi Zheng came here for two reasons: first, to investigate the situation of the clans in Jiangnan, and second, to examine the prefect, He Bo.
The imperial court is currently lacking a Minister to fill the vacancy.
He Bo, who has been stationed abroad for over ten years, is a very suitable person—talented, loyal, and neutral.
Looking at the orderly city gate, Qi Zheng's goodwill towards He Bode deepened.
The group lined up and arrived at the city gate.
Their caravan was quite simple: two horse-drawn carriages and six mule carts, all loaded with heavy wine jars—clearly they were out selling wine.
The city guards happened to be fond of wine, and seeing so many carts of fine liquor, their eyes practically lit up at the aroma.
Mr. Cao, being very perceptive, went over and brought out a few small wine jars. He said cheerfully, "Gentlemen, please have a taste. Our wine is a family heirloom medicinal wine; it tastes good and is also good for your health."
The small wine jar was simple, holding only an ounce or two, and worth little money. The city guard didn't refuse, took it, took a small sip, and exclaimed, "Good wine! Good wine!"
Another person also praised it: "It's really good wine, just a bit strong. Luckily, I only had one sip; it wouldn't be good if I got drunk."
The city guard, who was known for his love of wine, chuckled and said, "You've got a terrible capacity for alcohol, woman."
Song Jin heard this as soon as he got off the carriage. He raised an eyebrow, said nothing, strode over, took out a small jar of wine, drank it down in one gulp, and casually tossed it aside.
The city guard chuckled, "Young lady, you have quite the capacity for alcohol. I misspoke."
Song Jin smiled and said, "You're too kind, sir. This is our first time here. We don't know where the best food is in the city."
The city guard, with his good temper, laughed heartily: "If we're just talking about delicious food, then it has to be Qingfenglou on Ankang Street. The taste is absolutely authentic, it's been open for decades, and the prices are reasonable. We go there often. If we're talking about prestige, it has to be Linglongge. We were lucky enough to eat there once with the Prefect before. The food was good, but the prestige is something else entirely."
He gave a thumbs up.
These low-level officials, needless to say, certainly have a lot of tact and awareness.
If Song Jin and his group hadn't come out, it would have been just an ordinary merchant caravan. But if they had, it would have been clear they were young masters and ladies out for a trip, obviously not short of money.
That's what it's like to be good-looking; one person can hide it, but a group of people...
Song Jin smiled and didn't try to hide it: "That's a perfect coincidence. We're tired from our journey. Let's go to Linglong Pavilion to rest first, and then try Qingfeng Pavilion later. Thank you for the recommendation, sir."
The city guard knew he hadn't guessed wrong. He smiled and said, "You're too kind. However, according to the rules, we need to check again. Please wait a little longer."
As he spoke, another city guard had already gone to check on the wine jars.
Wine jars are the best for hiding things, and also the best for checking.
Song Jin and his group had been traveling through small towns and hadn't encountered this kind of checkpoint before. Although they were only pretending to be there, their goods were genuine, so they weren't afraid.
She smiled and picked up a five-pound jar of liquor from the side: "Thank you for your hard work, sir. Each of you can take a jar back later. Drinking a little every day will make your legs feel better after standing for a long time."
The city guard quickly declined, saying, "No, no, this is unacceptable."
Song Jin: "It's not worth much."
...
Behind him, Qu Maoze watched as Song Jin skillfully cultivated relationships with the city guards, his gaze deep.
Niu Tielan stood to the side, wearing a veil, and said softly, "When she was in Si'an County, she often dealt with the yamen runners. She always brought them either herbs or meat. They all liked her and would tell her any gossip they had in advance."
Qu Maoze felt a pang of sadness as he recalled that scene, and whispered, "Jin Jin is very capable, able to bend and stretch."
Niu Tielan liked hearing this and said softly, "Jinjin is indeed amazing. If it weren't for her, I probably wouldn't be alive today."
Qu Maoze straightened up and grabbed her hand: "Nonsense, she has her strengths, and you have yours. Together, you're twice as strong."
Niu Tielan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she scolded playfully, "You're so glib!"
Qu Maoze said seriously, "I'm just telling the truth."
Niu Tielan looked through the thin veil into his dark eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. She bit her lip, trying to pull her hand away, but it was held tightly, preventing her from moving.
His large hand clasped tightly, leaving no gap, carrying his burning body heat, like charcoal fire.
Niu Tielan suddenly felt a burning sensation in his hand.
Although I've done almost everything I should and shouldn't have done recently, it was all for the sake of treatment. I could suppress any messy or chaotic things that happened. But now, just holding hands makes my heart beat a little too fast.
Qu Maoze gently brushed his thumb across her wrist, a slight smile playing on his lips, and unusually refrained from saying anything that might spoil the mood.
The two stood quietly together, both looking at Song Jin on the other side.
She skillfully struck up a conversation with the city guards, subtly getting their words out of them: "This is our first time here. We've heard that the canal transport is convenient and cheap. If we set up our business later, canal transport should be even cheaper, but we're worried about running into river bandits."
While inspecting the wine jars, the city guard explained, "It depends on which section you're on. I haven't heard of any roads near Qianhe in recent years, but some sections near Kaihua are dangerous. There's no need for small businesses like yours to take such risks."
Song Jin asked in confusion, "Is that so? But now that we know where it is, can't we just attack it?"
The city guard shook his head: "It's difficult. They have a geographical advantage, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. They are also very skilled in water combat, making them hard to deal with. Moreover, those river bandits are very clever. Knowing that the authorities have been cracking down on crime in recent years, they frequently change their locations to rob, and they wear masks, making them very difficult to catch."
Song Jin suddenly realized: "That is indeed dangerous. Hopefully we won't encounter them, but walking also risks running into bandits. They said there was a disaster here this year, and it would be dangerous if the disaster victims couldn't accept it."
Now the city guards were puzzled: "Is that so?"
Song Jin scratched his head: "I think so? Is it Mingnan County? Wasn't there some kind of disaster relief effort? Or maybe Wanfeng County? I can't remember clearly, anyway, things weren't very peaceful."
The city guard suddenly realized, and chuckled twice: "Then you can go without worry. Over there, the out-of-towners are fine, but the locals... well, never mind that. I'll hurry up, and you can get into the city and rest as soon as possible."
Song Jin turned around and met Qi Zheng's gaze, her eyes thoughtful.
There's definitely something fishy going on over there; it just depends on whether they can find any evidence.
Seeing the city guards' swift movements, Song Jin didn't ask any more questions to avoid arousing suspicion. She only planned to find another opportunity to probe their intentions later.
There are some everyday matters that people below the level actually know less about than those above them.
The city guards acted quickly, checking each vehicle one by one. When they reached the last cart, they suddenly stopped and exchanged glances.
Song Jin, who had been casually leaning against the car, suddenly felt uneasy and strode over.
"Gentlemen, is there a problem?"
The two didn't speak, but instead looked at Song Jin suspiciously, glancing at her and then at the others. Their expressions were similar—doubtful, but not panicked.
The city guard, who was fond of wine, didn't say much. Right in front of them, he pulled out the lid of the outermost wine jar.
Instantly, a foul stench wafted out.
A sense of foreboding arose in the hearts of the group.
Sure enough, in a few moments, two furry heads timidly popped out, clinging to the mouth of the wine jar, their eyes darting back and forth, clearly showing their guilty conscience.
Boss Cao's furious roar rang out: "Yang Xiaohua, are you trying to die?!"
Song Jin's lips twitched.
She'll argue back if anyone calls her a brat again.
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